Horizontal type lifting jacks



March 16, 1965 R. K. ULM 3,173,660

HORIZONTAL TYPE LIFTING JACKS Filed Dec. 26. 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nw mq N AQ ATTORNEY! March 16, 1965 R, K, ULM

HORIZONTAL TYPE LIFTING JACKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1961 March16, 1965 R. K. ULM 3,173,660

HORIZONTAL TYPE LIFTING JACKS Filed Deo. 26, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet I5fil/1.7111.

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`umlmmmmmmm INVENTOR March 16, 1965 R, K, ULM

HORIZONTAL TYPE LIFTING JACxs 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 26, 1961 /IZ//f 73 1NVENT0R /PUSSELL K. (/M

ATTORNEW United States Patent O 3,173,6ss HORIZNTAL TYPE LIFTING JACKSRussell Keith Ulm, Butler, Ind., assigner to Universal Tool & StampingCompany, Ine., Butler, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Dec. 26,1961, Ser. No. 162,087 Claims. (Cl. 25d- 110) This invention relates toimprovements in horizontal type lifting jacks.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a fast actionlift type horizontal jack adapted `for use with low-type cars, such ascompacts.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a ruggedlyconstructed jack adapted to be used in connection with the lifting ofvehicles, the same preferably being adapted to side lift compactvehicles, and to that end being of very low height when collapsed, witha fast action lift mechanism.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved rackbar structure for horizontal type lifting jacks.

A further object of this invention is the provision or" an improved loadlifting assemblage for use on horizontal type rack bars.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andwherein similar reference characters designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views:

FIGURE l is a plan View of the improved jack in collapsible position.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the improved horizontal type jack `incollapsed position.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken through the jackin collapsed position.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the improved jack in elevated loadlifting position.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modiiied form of vehicleengaging head for jacks, the same differing from the head shown inFIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6of FIGURE 2, showing more particularly an anti-friction means forsupporting the slide carriage of the jack structure upon an improvedrack bar.

FIGURE 7 is `a fragmentary cross sectional view taken centrally throughthe rack bar at the front end thereof.

FIGURE 8 is a transverse cross sectional view taken through the rack barand base, substantially on the line 8--8 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 9 is a transverse cross sectional view taken substantially on theline 9-9 of FIGURE 2, and more particularly showing the connection of alift seat upon the vehicle elevating beam of the jack.

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of the rack structure of the jack showing itsbase mountings, with the load lifting structure of the jack removed.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the slide carriage of the jack andits pawl mechanism, showing the same detached from the rack bar.

FIGURE 12 is an end elevation of the slide carriage taken substantiallyon the line 12-12 of FIGURE 4, showing the same mounted in the rack bar.

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of an improved leg structure for thejack. It carries substantially the entire load during lifting of avehicle.

FIGURE 14 is a perspective View of an improved type of lift beam whichis very ruggedly constructed to withstand load lifting forces.

FIGURE l5 is a cross sectional view taken through the collapsed jackstructure, substantially on the line 15-15 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 16 is a cross sectional View taken through the carriage mechanismshown in FIGURE 11, the view being taken substantially on line 16-16 ofFIGURE 3, without showing the rack bar.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generallydesignate the improved jack. It includes a rack bar and base structureB, and load lifting assemblage C.

The assemblage B preferably includes a rack bar 20 of one-piececonstruction, which is formed of rolled steel, shaped to provide a widehorizontal bottom wall 21 having upstanding side vertical walls 22 and23, the latter of which at the upper ends thereof are provided withinturned horizontal flanges 24, lying in the saine plane. Thus, the rackbar may be said to have a polygonal or rather rectangular shaped crosssection. The iianges 24 form an important part in the mounting of theslide carriage of the load lifting assemblage C to be subsequentlydescribed. They terminate `at their facing edges to provide alongitudinal opening Z5 extending the length of the rack bar 2i),through which extends the details of the load lifting assemblage C, tobe subsequently described. These flanges 24 and the bottom wall and sidewalls of the bar, in elect, provide facing channels. The bottom wall 21centrally thereof and facing `and lying below the opening 25 is providedwith a series of teeth 3G. The wall 21 at each side of the row of teeth30 defines smooth -trackways for receiving certain guide portions of thepawl casing.

The rack bar 2l) is rolled and bent to form in a rolling mill asdescribed in my co-pending application Serial No. 156,398, filedDecember 1, 1961, -although it is of a different shape than the rack barof that application. The teeth 3G are formed identically the same as theteeth of the rack bar shown in said co-pending application. As will benoted yfrom FIGURE 10 these teeth are visible through the opening 25 inthe top of the rack bar and they extend throughout the entire length ofthe rack bar.

Further referring to the rack bar and base structure B, the rack baranges 24 are downturned as shown at 35 in FIGURES 7 and 10 of thedrawings, for a short distance, whereby to provide stops 36 which limitthe forward movement of a slide carriage of the assemblage C.

The base structure for the rack bar preferably consists of a front basepiece 40 and a rear base piece 41. The former is quite wide, beingslightly less than three times the width of the rack bar 20, andcomprises a ground engaging wall 42 the front end of which may betransversely raised as at 43 for strengthening the same. The rear edge44 is quite thin, since this portion of the base is intended to act as ashovel for clearing ground in order to operate the jack beneath avehicle should such be necessary.

The sides of the base 4t) are flanged vertically as at 45 substantiallythroughout their lengths, although the flanges stop short of the frontedge 44, and the front portions of these flanges are parallel for thepurpose of pivotally attaching a leg portion of the load liftingassemblage C thereto, as will be subsequently described. The large base46 is designed as to width and length for giving stability both fore andaft and sidewise, and such increases tremendously the buoyancy of thejack in soft ground.

The bottom Wall 21 of the rack bar at the front end overlies for a shortdistance the bottom wall 42. of the front base piece 4i) and is rivetedthereto at 46, at each side of the row of teeth 30. The bottom wall 42is recessed at this area at 47 to receive the rear teeth 30 of the rackbar as shown in FIGURE 3.

At its rear end the rack bar 20 is provided with thebase piece 41. Itconsists of a bottom wall 50 which may be `riveted or .bolted at 51 to.the rack bar bottom wall; an endf wall 52 being vertically positionedon the rear margin of the bottom wall 50 to close the channel of therack bar. It is overflangedfand llaterally flanged at 53 yupon the rackbar, as shown in the drawings.

The load lifting assemblage C preferably comprises la main liftinglegr65; beam 66,- pawl supporting slide carriage 67 and a lift head 68.In this/general arrangement the leg 65 is pivoted to the front base 40and intermediate Y its ends the beam 66 is pivoted tothe other end oftheleg. The liftyhe'ad 68 is mounted ori the outer Vend of the beam l 66,and the carriage 67 is vpivoted to the lower end ofthe beam 66 and`slides within the passageway of the rack bar Referring to the details ofthe leg structure 65, the same as shown in perspective in FIGURE 13,comprises a rather trapez'oidally shaped b ody wall 70 provided at thesides thereof with vertically disposed or upstanding wall anges l 71 and72 whichfexte'nd at the front of the leg structure beyond the edge 73 ofthe body 7i) andare there apertured at 74 for receiving a hinge shaft 75pivoted to the parallel portions of the opstanding flanges 45 of thebase member 40, ascan be seen from vFIYGUREI of the drawings. Theupstanding leg flanges 71 and 72" at the upper edges thereof areoutwardly hanged at 76, and the rear endsv of the leg flanges 71 extendbeyond the lateral flanges 76 and vare there vapertured `at78 lforreceiving a hinge pini79` mounted upon the beam fintermediate the endsof the sign ofthe beam 66 V and the legstructure 65. It will benotedthat the legstructure 65 is of one-piece formation,

as is also. the beam 66; The Z-.shaped formation Where the le'gs 71fa'rd72` lconnect with the body -70 and the flanges-76gi`ve greatstrengthtotheleg l65. The body 70 of the lglvstvructur 6 5 `ispreferably provided with an opening 82 therein Awhich receives the frontend .of Vthe racklbarwhenthe jaclgiscollapsed. The-body rearwardly ofthe' opening 82` is upwardly bulged at 83 so as to lie' insubstantially'hor-izontal position as shown in FIG- URE 3, and in this`position the bottom wall 80`of the beam 66Erests ushjthereonas shown inFIGURE 3 when collapsed to low position.v Thus, there is only one thick-.ness` of metal difference between the top surface of the rack bar andthe beam section 66, ,at .this location. Y

Due to the upwardly opening channel beam 66, a very strong structure hasbeen provided; the flanges 81 being under tension when load lifting, andthe bottom wall'` 80 plied to. enable detachment of the carriage forrepair of the pawl or the carriage mechanism, if so desired.

The carriage 67 is of unique construction, and intended to slideentirely withinthe passageway of the rack bar B. No part of it protrudeseither-laterally or beneath the rack Ibar -to provide an obstruction toground Contact, as the carriage'moves along the bar..y

Thercarria'ge 67 preferably comprises a .casing or housing -whichisshown in perspective in FIGURE 1l and in various elevations andcrosssectional views. lt includes sidewalls 91 tand 92 in parallelism,connected `forwardly and 'rearwardlyV by bottom cross barsr 93 and 94respectively, best shown in cross section in vFIGURE 3.

YMidway of theirheightsrthe walls .91 and 92" are forwardfly connectedand bracedby inturned shallow arm portions 95 which Iare spot welded Vat95.. Below these arm portions 96 the walls 9.1 and 92 are rearwardlyextendedand then laterally angled ,at 100 in divergent relation; theseportions 100 being radapted ,to ride intheside channels of the rack barbetween the bottom` wall 21 of the rack barl (laterally ofthe teeth 30)and the topfflan'ges 24, as is shown in FIGURE 12. Thus, the flanges 100provide extensions which are slidable inthe channels and on thetrackways of the rack bar to nprevent tilting of the pawl mechanismasthe latter is moved along the rack bar. In lieuof-these-lateral slidea'nges 100 anti-friction guide means may be substituted, s'uch asisshown in my above identified co-pending-application for sliding along arack bar, or rollers may be substituted. AAtthe front end of the casing90 rollers arel provided yat 104 on theouter endsof a pin.88, which rollalong the trackway channels provided at the sides of the rack baroutwardly of the row of teeth and between the. wall 21 land the flanges24, as can be noted from FIGURES 6 .and l2.

The carriage casing 90 supports a pawl mechanism, which is largelyconventional.V The same includes apawl actuating member which issocketed at '111"=to re- Vceive a handle 110e' and pivoted on adetachable pin113 mounted on the sidewalls of casing '90. Furthermore,the pawl mechanism includesa short pawl 112 pivoted on pin 113 mountedon the sidewalls of, casing l9i) and adapted to act upon the rack teethof the rack bar B. AA longerpawl 11,4 is pivotedt0n the actuatingymember 110 rearwardly and slightly upwardly lof the. pawl 112, upona'pin 115 carried by side walls 91y and 92 and likewise yadapted to acton the rack teeth ofthe bar v20. A looped steel spring 116'is providedin the case 90 connectedrat one end at 117 with Ithe free end of thelonger pawl 114 and Vat its oppositeend being connectedv at 118 to thefree end of the yshorter pawl 1,12. T he function of j this spring is tourge the free ends of fhte pawl into enbeing under compression. Thusthere is no likelihood :of

buckling of the beam.

Aswill be-noted from yFIGURE 14 the flanges 81 are apertured at 79a toreceive the hinge pin 79,'` and at its outer end, beam 66 is furtherapertured at 85 to receive a lift head pin 86, shown in `FIGURE 4. Atits lower end the beam 66 has the flanges 81 extending beyond the wall80, as will be noted from FIGUREv 3 to provide attach- Y prevent itsdetachmentk except whenV the carriage is re- Ymovedjfrom the rack bar.It can be mentioned at this point that instead o f rivets 46 and 51bolts may be supgagement with the rack teeth 30. A trip lever 120 ispivoted at 121 upon'the `case .9G having an inturned end 12()a forengagement with the intermediate or bight portion of the4 'spring .116.When in the position Vshown in FIGURE Sthespring rinduces a compressiveforce .large enough to Overcome both the tensile and compressive forcesintroduced into the spring by the alternate up and down movement ofthelonger pawl. When the trip lever 120 is lowered out of operation the upand down movement of thevhandle ofthe jack and the member 110 willxresult in the jack retracting along the horizontalrack bar. The shorterpawl 112 will Vengage the teeth 30 of the rack bar and the load will betransferred from the short pawl 11,2 to the long pawl114. The jacklifting` assemblage moves forwardly along the rack barV when the handleis movedv downwardly and whenthehandle is rotated upwardly the `longerpawl is pulled upwardly into the next tooth -of the-rack bar inaccordance with well known operation of such pawl mechanism.

The lifting head 68y is of inverted U-shapedcrosssection and is pivotedat 86 on the upper end of the beam 66. It is pivoted .thereon to seekits ownlevel in resting beneath the frame of the vehicle to be lifted,and an antifrictionipad v may be placed .on the top thereof. As analternate a rigid lift head 132 may be riveted or secured at 133 to theupper end of the beam 66a, as shown in FIGURE 5. This :bal-l type ofhead 132 is adapted to socket in the underside of the frame or car bodyprovided for it.

It should be mentioned that the case structure 90 does not carry any ofthe load except a reactionary force to push the beam forwardly or let itcome backward as the car is raised or lowered.

All parts of the rack bar, base structure, leg, beam, carriage and pawlmechanism are preferably constructed of durable metal, such as steel.

It should also be noted that the anti-friction rollers or slideextensions or members provided on the case 90 are contained, so tospeak, upwardly and downwardly within the side channels of the rack barand are adapted to contact the top anges 24 or the bottom wall Z1.

Various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be madeto the form of invention herein shown and described without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. In a jack structure, the combination of a rack bar of polygonal crosssection including a bottom wall, upstanding side walls and relativelyspaced ilanges mounted on the upper margins of the side walisoverhanging the bottom wall to define at each side of the rack bar aninwardly facing channel, the rack bar having teeth longitudinallythereof between said channels and facing the space between saidoverhanging iianges, a carriage longitudinally slidable upon the rackbar having means extending laterally lof the teeth and located beneathsaid tianges in said channels for guiding the movement of the carriageWithin the interior of the rack bar, pawl means carried by the carriagefor cooperation with said teeth in order to advance the carriage alongthe rack bar, a leg movably connected .to the rack bar at an end portionthereof, a beam pivotally connected at one end to the carriage andhaving the end of the leg remote from its pivot connection with the rackbar and pivotally connected intermediate the ends thereof.

2. In a jack structure the combination of a rack bar of Digi-d materialwhich is polygonal in cross section and includes an elongated bottomwall having upstanding elongated side walls in right angled 4relationtherefrom said side walls at the upper margins thereof having relativelyspaced inturned flanges thereon partially overhanging the bot-tom wallalong each side margin thereof, said flanges lying in the same plane andbeing relatively spaced to deiine at each side of the rack bar aninwardly facing channel, the rack bar having teeth longitudinallythereof lying between said channels and kfacing the space between saidoverhanging flanges, a carriage slidable upon the rack bar havingretaining means extending laterally of the teeth and located beneathsaid tianges and disposed in said channels for guiding the movement ofthe carriage within the interior of the rack bar, pawl means carried bythe carriage for cooperation with the teeth of the rack bar `for thepurpose of advancing the carriage along the rack bar, and collapsiblebeam and leg supporting means connected to said carriage and the rackbar for jack lifting purposes.

3. A jack structure as dened in claim 2 in which the beam and legsupporting structure comprises a one-piece supporting leg pivotallyconnected to the rack bar at an end thereof, and a beam pivotallyconnected to said carriage and inter-mediate its ends `pivotallyconnected to the outer end of said leg, said beam being of channelshapedcross section and of a width to collapse into the rack bar in the spacebetween said overhanging anges when the jack structure is collapsed.

4. The jack s-tructure of claim 2 in which the carriage comprises acasing structure provided with side walls spaced to move in the spacebetween said facing edges of said overhanging lianges and in which saidside walls at one end of the carriage are provided with laterallyprojecting portions extending into said channels as a guide and theopposite ends of said side walls being provided with anti-frictionrollers bearing on the bottom wall of the rack bar and beneath saidoverhanging anges.

5. in a jack structure the combination of an elongated rack bar of rigidmaterial which is polygonal in cross section and includes an elongatedbottom wall having upstanding elongated side walls in upstanding angledrelation therewith, the rack bar bottom wall having teeth in a rowlongitudinally thereof spaced from said side walls to define smoothtrackways at each side of the row of teeth, a carriage slidable upon therack bar having retaining means extending laterally of the teeth andlocated as a guide for movement along said trackways, pawl means carriedby lthe carriage for cooperation with the teeth of the rack bar for thepurpose of advancing the carriage along the rack bar, collapsible beamand leg supporting means connected to said carriage and the rack bar forjack lifting purposes, and means mounted on said rack bar to preventtilting of the carriage longitudinally thereon during sliding movementincident to pawl operation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 265,034 9/82 DeWeese 74-577 595,556 12/97 Butum 74--577 686,817 11/01 Macphail 189--41X 810,001 1/06 Sullivan 189-41 811,003 1/06 Tudor 189-41 1,068,960 7/13Ashliman 81-134 1,295,838 3/19 Barrett 81-134 1,508,044 9/24 Bate254-109 1,978,451 10/ 34 Eason et al. 2,361,690 10/44 Hunz 254-1102,463,771 3/49 Hunz 254--110 2,463,772 3/49 Hunz 254-110 2,487,553 1l/49Hunz 74--575 2,587,067 2/52 Sachtleber. 2,629,583 2/ 5 3 Mueller.3,124,014 3/64 Cheskin 74-575 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

5. IN A JACK STRUCTURE COMBINATION OF AN ELONGATED RACK BAR OF RIGIDMATERIAL WHICH IS POLYGONAL IN CROSS SECTION AND INCLUDES AN ELONGATEDBOTTOM WALL HAVING UPSTANDING ELONGATED SIDE WALLS IN UPSTANDING ANGLEDRELATION THEREWITH, THE RACK BAR BOTTOM WALL HAVING TEETH IN A ROWLONGITUDINALLY THEREOF SPACED FROM SAID SIDE WALLS TO DEFINE SMOOTHTRACKWAYS AT EACH SIDE OF THE ROW OF TEETH, A CARRIAGE SLIDABLE UPON THERACK BAR HAVING RETAINING MEANS EXTENDING LATERALLY OF THE TEETH ANDLOCATED AS A GUIDE FOR MOVEMENT ALONG SAID TRACKWAYS, PAWL MEANS CARRIEDBY THE CARRIAGE FOR COOPERATION WITH THE TEETH OF THE RACK BAR FOR THEPURPOSE OF ADVANCING THE CARRIAGE ALONG THE RACK BAR, COLLAPSIBLE BEAMAND LEG SUPPORTING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIAGE AND THE RACK BAR FORJACK LIFTING PURPOSES, AND MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID RACK BAR TO PREVENTTILTING OF THE CARRIAGE LONGITUDINALLY THERETO DURING SLIDING MOVEMENTINCIDENT TO PAWL OPERATION.